Racing Engineering are pleased to announce that Alexander Rossi will drive alongside Jordan King for the 2015 GP2 Series. The 23 year old Californian will drive the number 8 car with the Spanish team for his third, but first full season in GP2.

Alexander began racing in karts in 2002 and just four years later, after winning National and International championships, he became the youngest ever open wheel racing Champion in American racing history. In 2008 the young American won the Formula BMW World Champion holding the most series poles (10) and victories (14). His success saw him earn a test drive with the Sauber F1 Team and he made history again by becoming the youngest driver, at just 18 years old, to hold a Formula One Super License.

Alexander quickly moved up to the more powerful single seaters and was soon winning again taking victories in GP3 ! and World Series by Renault before taking his maiden GP2 Series victory at the final race of the 2013 season at the Yas Marina circuit. The past four years has seen Alexander involved within Formula 1 and in the role of Official Reserve Driver within the Caterham and Marussia Formula 1 Teams, driving the series challengers, logging thousands of kilometers and working with the teams to develop the car.

Alexander will join the team in Abu Dhabi for the first of the pre-season tests, and both he and Racing Engineering are looking forward to a great season ahead.

Max Papis and Olivier Panis shared a track in the nineties but they were never team mates.

As far as identically-named drivers go, Jacques Villeneuve’s uncle Jacques Villeneuve (Snr) posted three DNQs in 1981 and 1983. Although spelled the same, I think they pronounced their first names slightly differently – perhaps a Canadian can advise?